a few of my favorite things {apps}

I thought I would do a post about some of my favorite camera & camera editing apps.  I don't always have my big camera with me or my computer and Photoshop software on hand.  But I always have my iPhone with me!!  So when a photo op strikes, I am always ready!!

camera apps:

The camera that comes standard with the iPhone is pretty good, but I like to have more options when I am taking pictures, especially when the conditions are NOT ideal.

1. My GO TO camera app is Instagram.  I cannot say enough good things about it!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!  90% of my photo dump posts are taken with this app.  It has filters and frame options that can  make the same photo look completely different.  And the BEST part...It's FREE! (Android version HERE).
2. When I am not using Instagram, I use camera+.  This fun camera allows you to do lots of things you can do with your big camera, it has shooting modes, grid, digital zoom and you can adjust the exposure for dark/bright situations.  It also has filters and frames.  Even if you have no idea what all that stuff does, it is a great little camera app, and very user friendly. (Android version HERE. I think it is the same, it looks a little different).
3. I use InstaWeatherPro mostly for my Project Life pages.  This handy dandy app, adds the date, time and location of your photo.  You can also open it in instagram to add filters too. (Android version HERE).

photo editing apps:

1. A Beautiful Mess, this one lets you add text, doodles, frames, filters, make collages, and so much more.  I really enjoy this one a LOT! (Android version HERE).
2. Rhonna Designs, this one has SO MUCH.  I have only played with it briefly, it has so many text and doodles, that I can never make up my mind!!  It also has filters, frames and they update with new stuff on a regular basis.  (Android version HERE).

So there you have it!!  
What are some of your favorite apps??

Enjoy Today!

weekly photo dump ~ January {week 3}

From left to right:
1.  Bella loves the new fleece blanket I found at Fry's Marketplace on clearance for $6.  I don't blame her, it is SO soft.
2.  Every day when we leave for work, we fill the pups Kong's with some treats and peanut butter, They aren't spoiled at all!!
3.  ANOTHER pillow bit the dust at the Clark house!!  And they were doing so well too!!  This one was filled with down, and let me tell you, it was a PAIN to clean up!!  I will probably find feathers for months!  
4.  I have been on a little bit of an organizing kick...it feels so good to get stuff back in order after the holidays!!
5.  I have a crafty project sitting on my craft table, now just to tackle it!!
6.  Her is miss Bella taking a nap.  She is kind of a princess!!
7.  My new subscription that I found on Groupon for $6.  I love Cesar!!
8.  The temps have been great, so nice to open the windows, I love having fresh air in the house!!
9.  We took the pups to the bark park on Sunday, Sophie has been doing so much better socializing with the other dogs!!  (She used to be really scared and stay next to us the entire time). 

Enjoy Today!!

Project Life {getting started}

I get asked a lot, how do you do Project Life?  And while there is NO right or wrong way to do PL (you can make it simple or super creative.  I tend to stick to the simple), I thought I would do a post of some of the basics to get started.  

PL has revolutionized my scrap-booking!!  I love the simplicity of it and if I want to go CRAZY, I can.  I currently use the digital version of PL, but I started out using the paper version.  

I am going to talk about the paper version today, since that is the easiest and most popular way to do PL.  The digital version is easy too, you just need a photo editing software and have basic knowledge of a few tasks (ex.  clipping mask/layer order/adding text).


I have added an Amazon link with some of my favorite PL products (you can just click on it and it will take you directly to Amazon).  **ETA For some reason, I don't think thisLlist shows up when you view on a mobile device.  I will update with links this weekend**


Here are some supplies to start out with, but like I said before, you can use whatever you like:

1. Most importantly, YOUR photos (I like to have mine printed at COSTCO).
2. Photo Pocket Pages
3. PL Kit of your choice (I always go with something that would match any theme).  Some of my favorites are HERE HERE, HERE.
4. Pen (for journaling).
5. 12x12 Album for your completed pages.

*Kit shown is Turquoise).

I like to start out by placing all my journaling cards, filler cards, title cards in the pocket pages (you can always move them around later), You can see how I fill up my photo pages  HERE.  Then comes the fun part...adding your photos.  Once you get your pictures in place, journal away.  Some people like to scrap as they go.  Either way, you will see how fast and easy it is to preserve your memories!! 

 

 Pretty easy, huh??

Enjoy Today!!

Project Life {Looking Ahead}

It is so nice to be back to blogging and doing Project Life!!  Even though I have LIMITED time, it makes me happy to be creative!! 

I thought I would start off my 2014 PL album with a "looking forward" page.  Last year was not a great year for me, so I am super excited to MOVE forward.  I hope it will remind me throughout the year to remember my word for the year "GRACE" and my GOALS for 2014.  I really love the quote on page 2 by CS Lewis " There are far better things AHEAD than what we leave behind."  I am claiming that for 2014!!

Left

 

 

Right

How about you?  What are your goals (or word) for 2014??

Enjoy Today!! 

coming up...
I get asked a LOT about PL and Where/How to start.  I am writing a post on Friday about it!!  So if you have been wanting to start documenting your every day life and don't know where to start, make sure you come back on Friday to see just how easy it is to get started!!

 

 

weekly phone dump - January week {two}

From left to right:
1.  I bought new pillows for the family room last week.  Apparently Sophie and Bella had some fun with one of them.  They usually don't do that sort of thing anymore.  They must have been bored waiting for me to come home from work.
2.  Ashley gave me some Pirates Booty.  These individual bags are only 2 WW points plus (I could have eaten 2 bags, LOL!!), it was really yummy!!
3.  Every night after work I take the pups for a walk (or run, if the school field is empty).  It is a good way to force me to stay active.
4.  My hubby always gasses up my car and takes it through the car wash for me.  He is pretty great!!
5.  Bella is a ball hog!!  She will eventually learn how to keep 2 balls in her mouth, I am sure of it.
6.  Our order from HERE finally came in, so we can finish our stairway!! 
7.  I love shopping at Sam's (and Costco), because I get some of my favorite things in very large quantities.  Notice the grape juice (I blogged about it HERE).
8.  The new Bully Breed magazine was at Petco.  I love reading through them!!  Although, I don't really consider Sophie and Bella Bullies!!
9.  Soph and Bella met a new friend at the Bark Park on Sunday.  We want to make sure our pups have good socialization skills.  Sophie is a little shy, but she is getting better.  Bella thinks she owns the place.

Enjoy Today!!

why I have been drinking grape juice...

I hate being sick!!  
The stomach bug is the worst of the WORST!!  Last year I had a nasty bout with it, I was sick for at least a week.  I remember the week perfectly, because it was the week we got Sophie (not the best time to get a new puppy, but it all worked out).  My husband and daughter hate puking more than anyone I know!!  One day Ashley told me about a blog post she read about how grape juice prevents you from getting the stomach bug, and she immediately jumped on the grape juice bandwagon.  Mike wasn't too far behind, I on the other hand am not really a fan of the taste of grape juice (it is okay in the little cup for church for communion, but a giant glass???).   I was a little skeptical, but the more I Google'd it, the more I found about it. 

A few blog posts about it:
HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Some facts about grape juice:
Grapes and grape juice supply many important nutrients, such as vitamin C and potassium and might also have certain health protective benefits. Grape juice might reduce your risk of developing blood clots, help reduce your LDL cholesterol level, prevent damage to the blood vessels around your heart and help maintain a healthy blood pressure. The antioxidants in grapes and grape juice might also help reduce your risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. 

Prevention:
The most effective way to prevent a stomach virus is to wash your hands regularly. Scrub your hands with soap and water after using the restroom or changing a diaper, before eating, after spending time outside and after coming into contact with surfaces that might harbor germs, such as door handles.  

If someone in your family has a stomach virus, don't share towels, utensils or dishes. This might help prevent the spread of the germs that cause the virus. Grape juice is a healthy sources of vitamin C. The vitamin C that grape juice contains will help boost your immune system. 


Well, over the past few weeks the stomach bug has been going around my office.  It has hit everyone around me.  So I am not sure if drinking grape juice prevents the stomach bug or not, but I am not taking any chances...I am drinking my grape juice EVERY day.  I drink it with dinner, and it isn't so bad (I think I am acquiring a taste for it). So far I have been stomach bug free~and I am pretty HAPPY about that!!

What do you think?

Enjoy Today!!

Project Life {Christmas Day}...

I was feeling a bit rusty working on my Project Life pages over the weekend.  I have not done any scrapping since...can you believe...May?!  YIKES!!  I have some catching up to do! (you can see my other pages HERE).  I decided that I am not going to stress over it, instead I will plug away at 2013 and go forward with 2014.  I jumped in and started with Christmas, since that was still fresh in my memory.  I also realized that I need to start taking pictures with my REAL camera.  I have gotten LAZY, since I always have my iPhone with me.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my iPhone, but I do miss using my real camera.  

Since I have not done PL in a few months, I soon realized how many new digital kits are available.  I ended up purchasing THIS mini kit to work on my Christmas Page.  It is amazing how some new stuff really helped get me back in the groove!!  I think there may be some retail therapy in my future, LOL!! 

 

Left Page

 Right Page

 

 

Are you doing PL?

Enjoy Today!